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CCOG for WS 202 Spring 2024

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Course Number:
WS 202
Course Title:
Women, Activism and Social Change
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Applies intersectional analysis to examine feminist movements for social change. Explores individual and community resistance to oppression. Examines activists' strategies, organizations, goals, accomplishments and challenges. Prerequisites: WR 115, RD 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement test scores. Audit available.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

  1. Analyze efforts to dismantle systems of oppression using an intersectional feminist approach.
  2. Analyze influences of changing political, social, economic, religious, sexual, historical, and cultural patterns in the creation and perpetuation of injustice.
  3. Describe personal avenues for participation in creating social change and advancing social justice.
  4. Communicate by writing, speaking, and collaborating.

Integrative Learning

Students completing an associate degree at Portland Community College will be able to reflect on one’s work or competencies to make connections between course content and lived experience.

General education philosophy statement

This course aligns with the PCC General Education philosophy by providing an appreciation of history both from a global perspective and from a personal perspective, including an awareness of the role played by gender and by various cultures, This course also provides an understanding of the ethical and social requirements of responsible participation in society. It accomplishes these goals by centering intersectional feminism and analyzing the creation and maintenance of systems of oppression such as sexism, heterosexism, cissexism, racism, classism, ableism, among others.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Student mastery of outcomes may be assessed by any combination of the following:

  1.  Written or oral assignments, objective or essay examinations
  2. Research projects, participation in class discussions, small group activities, exercises, or role plays
  3. Performances or plays
  4. Oral or visual presentations
  5. Participating in or organizing community or professional events
  6. Service learning activities

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Themes, Competencies, and Skills:

  1. Reflect on the history of women’s advocacy for positive changes in the conditions which impact girls’ and women’s lives.
  2. Articulate and explore ways in which women and men can implement a vision of social change which empowers women and improves the circumstances of their lives.
  3. Explain several feminist theoretical perspectives.
  4. Examine a topic relevant to girl’s or women’s lives, and analyze efforts and effects of social change on this topic.
  5. Develop skills in explaining one’s views in depth and listening respectfully to others.
  6. Explore possible directions for future social change efforts.
     

Themes, Concepts, Issues:
 

  • power, privilege
  • sexism, albums, ageism
  • heterosexism, homophobia
  • sexual orientation, sexual minorities
  • androgyny
  • systems of oppression
  • patriarchy
  • identity politics
  • dualism
  • essentialism
  • social constructivism
  • feminist epistemologies
  • authority of experience
  • first, second, and third wave feminisms
  • liberal, socialist, radical feminisms
     

Instructors teaching WS202 may focus on such topics as:
 

  • work and economics
  • violence
  • sport and leisure
  • politics and law
  • education
  • arts
  • mental health
  • health care
  • mass media/TV/film/Internet
  • religion
  • science
  • philosophy

Proposed revisions (9/30/2020): Themes, concepts, issues (MAY include):

  • liberal, socialist, radical feminisms

  • collective action and solidarity

  • strengths and challenges in coalition work

  • activist strategies, organizations, goals, accomplishments and challenges.

  • history of feminism  power, privilege

  • patriarchy, racism, transphobia, classism, homophobia, ageism, ableism, fatphobia, settler colonialism  and other patterns of oppression

  • social construction of gender